improved docs

engine/table/src/main/java/io/deephaven/engine/table/impl/util/FunctionGeneratedTableFactory.java

@@ -53,14 +53,17 @@ public static Table create(Supplier<Table> tableGenerator, int refreshIntervalMs
     }
 
     /**
-     * Create a table that refreshes based on the value of your function, automatically called when any of the
-     * {@code sourceTables} tick. <br />
-     * Note that the {@code tableGenerator} may access data in the {@code sourceTables} but should not perform further
-     * table operations on them -- since the operations may be memoized, it is possible that a table operation will
-     * return a table created by a previous invocation of the {@code tableGenerator}. Since that result will not have
-     * been included in the {@code sourceTables}, it is not guaranteed to have been processed by the
-     * {@code UpdateGraphProcessor}, allowing the {@code tableGenerator} to unexpectedly run against the memoized,
-     * not-yet-updated table.
+     * Create a table that refreshes based on the value of your function, automatically called in a
+     * dependency-respecting way when at least one of the {@code sourceTables} tick.
+     * <p>
+     * <em>Note</em> that the {@code tableGenerator} may access data in the {@code sourceTables} but should not perform
+     * further table operations on them without careful handling. Table operations may be memoized, and it is possible
+     * that a table operation will return a table created by a previous invocation of the same operation. Since that
+     * result will not have been included in the {@code sourceTables}, it's not automatically treated as a dependency
+     * for purposes of determining when it's safe to invoke {@code tableGenerator}, allowing races to exist between
+     * accessing the operation result and that result's own update processing. It's best to include all dependencies
+     * directly in {@code sourceTables}, or only compute on-demand inputs under a
+     * {@link io.deephaven.engine.liveness.LivenessScope}.
      *
      * @param tableGenerator a function returning a table to copy into the output table
      * @param sourceTables The query engine does not know the details of your function inputs. If you are dependent on a

py/server/deephaven/table_factory.py

@@ -358,13 +358,13 @@ def function_generated_table(table_generator: Callable[[], Table],
 
     The table definition must not change between invocations of the 'table_generator' function, or an exception will be raised.
 
-    Note: any tables used by the 'table_generator' function *MUST* be specified in the 'source_tables'. This
-    ensures that the 'table_generator' is rerun only *after* any changes to the 'source_tables' have been processed.
-    Additionally, while the 'table_generator' may access data in the 'source_tables', it should not perform further table
-    operations on them -- since the operations may be memoized, it is possible that a table operation will return a
-    table created by a previous invocation of the 'table_generator'. Since that result will not have been included in
-    the 'source_tables', it is not guaranteed to have been processed by the UpdateGraphProcessor, allowing the
-    'table_generator' to unexpectedly run against the memoized, not-yet-updated table.
+   Note that the 'table_generator' may access data in the sourceTables but should not perform further table operations
+   on them without careful handling. Table operations may be memoized, and it is possible that a table operation will
+   return a table created by a previous invocation of the same operation. Since that result will not have been included
+   in the 'source_table', it's not automatically treated as a dependency for purposes of determining when it's safe to
+   invoke 'table_generator', allowing races to exist between accessing the operation result and that result's own update
+   processing. It's best to include all dependencies directly in 'source_table', or only compute on-demand inputs under
+   a LivenessScope.
 
     Args:
         table_generator (Callable[[], Table]): The table generator function. This function must return a Table.